Jordan Pacheco hitless, but Cook feeling no pain

OK, OK, I couldn’t resist. The kid has looked that good in the early stages of spring training.

Pacheco went hitless in three at-bats this afternoon, dropping his Cactus League batting average to .400. But here’s the important part: He hit second in the lineup vs. the Angels, a clear indication that the Rockies’ front office wants to take a long look at him.

Penciling Pacheco, a 2007 ninth-rounder who hasn’t stepped foot in Triple A, on to the opening-day roster is a stretch. But he has played well enough for the Rockies’ decision makers to want to get a closer look at him.
For the record, no one is overreacting to Pacheco’s hot start. Not the reporters covering the team and certainly not Rockies manager Jim Tracy.

“I don’t want to answer that question,” said Tracy, when asked the latest question about Pacheco. “How about we just keep playing these games for a while?”

Another postgame tidbit from today’s juego: Aaron Cook long tossed Tuesday and threw 15 pitches off a mound with no pain. If he reports no pain Thursday, look for him to be scheduled for a bullpen session.

So when would Cook make his first Cactus League appearance? That’s anyone’s guess. Tracy says he would want to see Cook throw in the bullpen and a round of live batting practice before considering using him in a game.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.